NEW MAGAZINE COVERS

• qp1559-D, model released woman snorkeling over coral reef in Raja Ampat Indonesia on June 2010 cover of Tauchen Magazine
• qn0305-D, Northern Kelp Crab on July 2010 cover of Scuba Diving Magazine
• qh1209-D, Atlantic Sailfish feeding on sardines on July 2010 cover of Wildlife in North Carolina Magazine

NEW SELECTS PAGE ON WEB SITE

We've updated the Selects page on our web site, where you will find the above brand new underwater photo and other favorite marine images from our collection.

Above photo qp72613. Photo of Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) schooling in front of purple Magnificent Sea Anemone (Heteractis magnifica), high resolution digital capture made in North Sulawesi Indonesia. As you may imagine based on its striking looks, this tropical fish species is popular in the worldwide aquarium trade. It is bred successfully in captivity, but is still being captured in the wild. Its native range in the wild is very limited, and its population is now considered threatened as a result of perhaps a 90% decline due to intense collecting. Originally restricted to the Banggai Islands in Indonesia, it now is also found in two other areas off Sulawesi, probably the result of introduction by fish traders in the last decade. I photographed this in Lembeh Strait, 250 miles away, where they seem to be doing very well. In fact, I wonder if they are displacing native species. In 2007 it was proposed to protect this species under CITES, but Indonesia said no.

e: brandoncole@msn.com
w: www.brandoncole.com
t: 509-535-3489

MYSTERIOUS WHALE DIE-OFF

Alarming news about the Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis) in Patagonia, Argentina ( http://tinyurl.com/ybfppus ) where hundreds of these baleen whales have died for unknown reasons in recent years. We have photographed animals from this same population in Gulfo Nuevo on Peninsula Valdez. View our dramatic photos of southern right whales - underwater pictures of bus-sized adults and curious, playful calves; tail flukes at sunset; breaching shots; and more on our web site . Our collection of whale photography is one of the strongest in the world, with many species represented.

e: brandoncole@msn.com
w: www.brandoncole.com
t: 509-535-3489

STRIPED MARLIN PHOTO ON FRONT COVER OF MARLIN MAGAZINE

One of our Striped Marlin (Tetrapturus audax) underwater photographs from offshore Mexico was just published as the front cover of Marlin magazine, February 2010 issue. We have a strong collection of dramatic photos of billfish such as sailfish and marlin feeding on sardine baitballs .

e: brandoncole@msn.com
w: www.brandoncole.com
t: 509-535-3489

SCUBA DIVING PHOTOSHOOT IN RAJA AMPAT, INDONESIA

Our bags are packed. In a few days we will be jetting to Sorong, West Papua on the eastern fringes of Indonesia. In underwater photography circles, the Raja Ampat archipelago is the place to be right now in terms of coral reef photography. We have chartered the beautiful Seven Seas live-aboard diving boat for two weeks and are looking forward to diving with friends from around the world. Check back with us in March to see the new photo coverage. We already have a very strong collection of images from Indonesia- Bali, Komodo, Sulawesi, and other hotspots- and we're looking forward to adding dramatic and creative new underwater imagery from Raja.

We invite you to view a slideshow of photos from our last Indonesia expedition on the Seven Seas .

If you'd like to join us on future scuba trips, please let us know. Exciting upcoming charters include the Galapagos Islands, Socorro (The Revillagigedos) off Baja Mexico, perhaps humpback whales, and more.

All the best,

Brandon and Melissa Cole

e: brandoncole@msn.com
w: www.brandoncole.com
t: 509-535-3489

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION PANEL OF PHOTO PROS

We are honored by the invitation to join the National Wildlife Federation's panel of photo pros. Visit their popular PhotoZone web feature to ask us questions about photography, digital workflow, gear, nature and wildlife photo hot spots, our specialty underwater imaging, and more. The first question posed to us: Our New Year's photo resolutions!

NWF publishes "National Wildlife" and "Ranger Rick" magazines, two of the top nature and wildlife magazines in the world. We're always delighted to have our marine pictures published in them.

Thanks to the NWF team!